Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine
or, put another way
Total Chlorine - Free Chlorine = Combined Chlorine
Free Chlorine is the chlorine that is doing its job.
Combined Chlorine is the chlorine that has combined with contaminants such as nitrogen. It is ineffective as a sanitizer and it is noxious.
Total Chlorine is the total of these two levels.
To eliminate the Combined Chlorine (making all the chlorine in the pool Free Chlorine) you must shock the pool to remove the contaminants. You must reach "Breakpoint Chlorination", which is the addition of chlorine to your pool equivalent to the Combined Chlorine level times 10.
example:
Total Chlorine = 1.5ppm
Free Chlorine = 1.0ppm
So, the Combined Chlorine (the difference between the two tests) is .5ppm
Breakpoint chlorination, in this example would be .5ppm X 10 = 5ppm. So, in this example, you would add enough chlorine to your pool to raise the chlorine level up by 5 parts per million.
To match high free chlorine with total chlorine, you can either dilute the water with chlorine-free water or add a dechlorinating agent to reduce the total chlorine level. It's important to maintain the proper balance to ensure safe swimming conditions while minimizing chlorine levels. Consulting a pool professional for specific guidance is recommended in this situation.
Swimming in a pool with a high free chlorine level can cause skin and eye irritation. It's recommended to avoid swimming until the free chlorine level returns to the normal range to prevent any discomfort or health issues.
When total chlorine is high and free chlorine is low, it usually indicates that there is combined chlorine present in the water. This can be due to organic contaminants or inadequate sanitation. To address this issue, shock the pool with a higher dose of chlorine to break down the combined chlorine, and then test and adjust the levels accordingly. Additionally, ensure proper filtration, cleaning, and maintenance practices to prevent the buildup of combined chlorine.
When the free chlorine level is higher than the total chlorine level, it usually indicates that there is excess combined chlorine or chloramines in the water. This can happen when free chlorine reacts with organic matter or other contaminants in the pool, forming chloramines. To rectify this, you may need to shock the pool to break down the chloramines and restore the balance between free and total chlorine.
If your chlorine level is too high, you can reduce it by diluting the pool water with fresh water. Another way is to turn off the chlorine feeder and allow the chlorine to naturally diminish over time. Additionally, you can use a chlorine neutralizer to bring down the chlorine levels quickly.
No, it is not safe to drink water treated with chlorine. Chlorine is added to water as a disinfectant, but drinking water with high levels of chlorine can be harmful to your health. It is important to allow chlorine to dissipate from water before consuming it.
If your total chlorine is high and your free chlorine is low, it means that the chlorine in the water is mostly bound to contaminants and is not available to sanitize the pool effectively. This situation could result from the chlorine being overused or ineffective due to high levels of organic matter. To correct it, you may need to shock the pool to break down the combined chlorine and restore the free chlorine levels.
Swimming in a pool with a high free chlorine level can cause skin and eye irritation. It's recommended to avoid swimming until the free chlorine level returns to the normal range to prevent any discomfort or health issues.
When total chlorine is high and free chlorine is low, it usually indicates that there is combined chlorine present in the water. This can be due to organic contaminants or inadequate sanitation. To address this issue, shock the pool with a higher dose of chlorine to break down the combined chlorine, and then test and adjust the levels accordingly. Additionally, ensure proper filtration, cleaning, and maintenance practices to prevent the buildup of combined chlorine.
If your total chlorine level is higher than your free chlorine level, it is likely due to the presence of combined chlorine (chloramines). This can cause issues with water sanitation and clarity. To address this, you may need to shock your pool with a superchlorination treatment to break down the chloramines and bring the free chlorine level back into balance. Be sure to follow manufacturer instructions and test the water again after treatment.
Swimming in a pool with high free chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation. It is recommended to wait until the chlorine levels have returned to normal before swimming in the pool to avoid any discomfort or potential health issues.
When the free chlorine level is higher than the total chlorine level, it usually indicates that there is excess combined chlorine or chloramines in the water. This can happen when free chlorine reacts with organic matter or other contaminants in the pool, forming chloramines. To rectify this, you may need to shock the pool to break down the chloramines and restore the balance between free and total chlorine.
You only need to shock the pool if there is visible algae, or if the ppm of total chlorine is higher than the ppm of free chlorine. Generally, a level of 2-4 ppm chlorine is all you need to keep your pool sanitary. Let the level drop to that on its own, or use sodium thiosulfate to drop it quickly if you notice itchy skin from excessive chlorine.
To lower free chlorine levels in a saltwater pool, you can dilute the water by adding fresh water, allow sunlight to breakdown the chlorine, or use a chlorine neutralizer product. It's important to test the water regularly to monitor the chlorine levels and adjust as needed.
How do you know that it is too high? If you are using a home test kit it will show the total chlorine, which includes free chlorine and combined chlorine. Only free chlorine can sanitize the pool. Combined chlorine is broken apart by "shocking" the pool with 1L liquid chlorine per 10000L of water in the pool. (For most pools 10L is fine if you're unsure of the pool volume.) Chlorine will disipate on its own anyways. Sidenote: Are you using a lot of chlorine pucks? They contain stabilizer, which is used to keep the chlorine from burning off in the sun too quickly. If it is overused the chlorine will burn off too slowly. Are you getting readings above 10.0 ppm of chlorine? What is too high? Do you smell the chlorine? Then there's not enough chlorine. Simple as that. K
If free chlorine levels are at 9 ppm, it indicates a high chlorine concentration in the water, exceeding the recommended level for safe swimming. You should avoid entering the water and wait for the chlorine levels to naturally decrease with time or consider diluting the pool water with fresh water to lower the chlorine concentration. It's important to regularly test the water and ensure the chlorine levels are within the recommended range of 1-3 ppm for safe swimming.
Free chlorine is effective against all pathogenic contaminants when added to water in high concentrations and provided a long enough contact time.However, at practical concentrations free chlorine is ineffective in dis-activating protozoa, particularly Cryptosporidium, Parvum oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts.
Among oxygen, chlorine, and chromium, chromium is most likely to be the best conductor of electricity. Chromium is a metal and metals generally have high electrical conductivity due to the presence of free electrons that can move easily and conduct electric current. Oxygen and chlorine are nonmetals and generally have poor electrical conductivity.